Dining, Arts & Entertainment

We have a winner!  Felix Wong is the reigning champion of Pho Sure’s 1st Annual Eating Competition.  He was able to consume 8.3 pounds of broth, noodles, briskets, onions and cilantro in 10 minutes knocking his two hefty competitors out of the competition.

The day starts early at each of our Santa Clarita Wendy’s.  Each morning our staff is hard at work, washing and hand-leafing whole, fresh heads of lettuce, slicing fresh tomatoes, and prepping whole rings of red onions.  Having the freshest, highest quality ingredients really makes a difference in the taste of the hamburger. 

We all look forward to summer fun – picnics, back yard parties and special events.  We fire up our grills and join our friends for lavish pot lucks.  Music, games and pool parties set the stage for celebrating friendship or special occasions.  We like to eat, drink and be merry.

Sushi has become incredibly popular in the United States in recent years.  Most people have tried it and for those that haven’t, you may find yourself in a sushi bar very soon.  While the initial thoughts of eating raw fish may be unappetizing, sushi is a very healthy food that can be enjoyed by everyone.  

To children the end of the school year means just that, the end.  Time for fun is at hand; summer camp, vacations, amusement parks, sleeping in late, staying up late and best of all - no homework.  For parents, summer planning starts long before school is out.  Day camps, vacation plans, how to keep the all too familiar phrase “I’m bored” at bay.  Yes, I remember it all too well.  For my family, regardless of an erratic summer schedule, there was one activity that stayed constant.  Summer reading.

What in the world do beekeepers and honey and fathers have in common?  They are all themed train rides offered at Fillmore & Western Railway Co in nearby Ventura County.  Discover why bees are so essential to our economy and to agriculture.  Bees make it possible for almond, avocado, citrus and many other fruits, nuts and veggies.  The first annual Honey Harvest Festival is Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10 in Fillmore’s downtown Central Park.  

Hello comedy fans!  Want to have a great time raising money for your organization?  Have a funny fundraiser at J.R.’s Comedy Club, and raise $1,000 or more and have the most fun ever doing it.  Call 661-259-2291 to find out how, or check out our website www.comdyinvalencia.com.  We have an unbelievable month of June.
On June 1 and June 2 we have Lenny Schmidt, one of the most high energy wound tight comedians you will ever see.  He has guest starred on Desperate Housewives, ER, and countless other television shows.  He is a riot.

So here I am, after my latest date, trying to figure out why it did not work.  As I thought about it, and asked some friends, I found out this is not an isolated incident.  This is a lot more widespread than I thought.  It seems that an awful lot of men and women are looking for this.  I never paid much attention to it, but obviously it is very important to a lot of people.
Now that I have your attention, and curiosity, it is time to address this. 

Maybe it had something to do with solid communication and working together as a team instead of an individual.  Maybe it was the fact that life was simpler, or maybe it had something to do with solid foundations built with respectable values.  Whatever it may be the union of marriage has seemed to change with the times.  Lifetime relationships based on hard work and faith have almost become obsolete, maybe not for everyone, but enough to take notice.  While I cannot speak for everyone and certainly do not claim to know all the answers, I can speak from experience.  That experience comes from talking with my two sets of grandparents who have both been married 50 plus years.

For high quality fresh food served or catered, visit Marketplace Café and Gourmet Catering.  Owned and operated by a classically trained chef, Teri Kelly, she and the staff at Santa Clarita’s Marketplace Café & Gourmet Catering take pride in serving fresh and seasonal “farm-to-table” cuisine in a small quaint sandwich shop, specializing in full service catering to meet all your needs. “I come from a family of professional chefs,” states Teri.  “It’s a passion that runs strong in our family.” At Santa Clarita’s Marketplace Café and Gourmet Catering, they take pride in the quality of food as well as customer service.  “Our goal is to make a difference with each of our customers.”

Cheers @ All Corked Up has re-opened and is now under new ownership!  Come wine and dine in a quiet and intimate setting, while trying out their Latin infused selection of delicious dishes, indulging in their delectable brunch menu, or enjoy a glass of wine.  You won’t be disappointed.  
Owners Carolyn, her aunt Theresa Rivera and Al Robles have partnered up to create an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.  “We serve a variety of Latin American food,” states Carolyn.  “We have traditional Puerto Rican dishes, serving up seafood, steak and chicken as well.  We have a little bit of everything.”

Chairman Donnell Jones extends an invitation to our community to attend and participate in the 3rd Annual Santa Clarita Elks Lodge #2379 Car Show and Chili Cook-Off Charity Fundraiser that will be held on Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Proceeds from this event will provide free programs for children with disabilities through the Elks Major Project.
This year, Jim Lentini and Ray Paladini worked together to create a competitive and Poker Run that will begin at the Lodge at 8:30 a.m.  Registered participants, driving cars or riding motorcycles, will be given information and directions for the poker run and rally route.

On June 18 at 6:30 p.m., Anne Hoffman will demonstrate floral still life in oil, free to the public, sponsored by the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA).  Her finished demo will be raffled off.
The monthly general meeting is held in the community room at Barnes & Noble, 23630 Valencia Boulevard in Valencia (at Magic Mountain Pkwy).  For more information on SCAA, visit santaclaritaartists.org or call 661-244-7689.

Pho Sure will be hosting its first Annual Pho Eating Competition on Saturday, June 9 at 3:30 p.m.  Everyone is welcome; only the first 15 contestants will compete.  Contestants must be at least 18 years old at the time of competition and cannot begin to eat until the starting signal is given. 

It was an evening of art and beauty as the City of Santa Clarita hosted their Art Walk on Thursday, April 5, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.  The Art Walk took place on Main Street, between 6th and Market Streets in Old Town Newhall, and featured live painting demonstrations, fashion shows, food and more.

Carved from the former Spanish land grant known as Rancho Los Feliz, Griffith Park, a rugged, 4,300-acre wilderness located in the heart of Los Angeles, has been the principal playground for Angelenos for over a century.  Co-author of Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America: Griffith Park” and Film Historian E.J. Stephens will give a talk on the History of Griffith Park before the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. 

Hello Comedy Fans!  The empire is growing.  As most of you know, J.R.’s Comedy Club has been going strong in Valencia for the last 14 years.  Four years ago we opened up The Ventura Harbor Comedy Club (www.VenturaHarborComedyClub.com).  We recently stated a monthly show at The Junkyard Cafe in Simi Valley, and on April 20 we opened J.R.’s Comedy Club in Santa Monica (www.SantaMonicaComedy.com) inside the iconic restaurant Earth Wind and Flour at 2222 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica.

Spring is in the air in the Heritage Valley.  The orange trees are adorned in their white coats of blossoms and the fragrance is intoxicating.  Come ride the Fillmore & Western Railway train and enjoy an unusual excursion that will awaken your senses. Onboard our vintage train, you will “see” nature in all her glory reflected in the orange, lemon and avocado groves, and the stately mountain peaks that tower over the peaceful valley floor.  Listen to the bees as they buzz about working feverishly to fulfill their natural function.